As a precursor and a build-up to an initiative called 4Healing, gospel singer, songwriter, actress, author, and vocal coach Alicia Taylor will later this month kick off a series called Alicia Taylor Music Live in Concert.

“This is a live online concert series which will be held every last Friday of the month. I’ll be in different spaces with my band singing my heart out. We begin in March and continue through to September,” Taylor shared with the Jamaica Observer on Thursday.

She explained the decision to host the online concert series.

“I wanted to do this for two reasons, I believe there is something my generation needs to hear as I sing and pull people into corporate worship. Secondly, I’m doing this so that Jamaica and the world will journey and partner with me towards the staging of 4Healing 2024.”

Some guest performers who will be featured include the award-winning Johnmark Wiggan and Jucal Dyer.

Taylor shared the objectives and target demographic that 4Healing is set to tap into.

“4Healing is an intimate, all-inclusive musical experience geared at taking persons on a journey of introspection and empowerment, and bringing the audience into a space that provokes healing, purposeful living, and unlocking their God-given potential. 4Healing is designed to enable each attendee to tap into their mind and spirit through its stripped down, acoustic sets. Additionally, 4Healing is intentionally kept small to allow the audience and the ministers to connect with each other. We recognise the importance of mental, spiritual, and physical healing and as such the space provides an opportunity for mentorship and counselling with trained mental health professionals and social workers at our wellness booth. It is an annual event which we first held last April, but we are looking to kick things off in October,” said Taylor.

Taylor, whose most recent single You Are Great, produced by Downswell Productions, was released in September last year, has been involved in gospel music since 2007.

“I started back in 2007 when Jermaine Edwards asked me to sing background vocals for him. I did backgrounds for around 10 years then launched out on my own. Singing with Jermaine gave me the platform and opportunity for growth and development I needed to really do this thing well. I thank God for him every day,” said Taylor.

Four years ago Taylor released an EP titled Dear God.

“Dear God is a series of letters written to God. I was in a backslidden state and I started writing letters to God hoping He would answer and pull me out. Needless to say, He did, and when I wanted to keep the letters hidden God instructed me to publish them because they would help other people who are at the same place I had been,” she explained.

Taylor continued: “I’d describe my journey as one filled with favour and service. I understood very early in life that serving gives you access. I served Jermaine for years and what that did for me was open great and effective doors into the gospel industry. God showed me favour by allowing Jermaine to be my destiny helper. I am eternally grateful.”

She told the Observer that, “I like to believe that I echo Heaven. My sound, eclectic, my writing, authentic and telling. I love exploring music and seeing how my voice fits different genres and styles. I’m not afraid to sing the concealed thoughts of my generation.”

The multihyphente shared what led her to a life in serving Christ.

“I was always fascinated with the things of the kingdom, and growing up I had a strong relationship with the Lord, so my desire to serve Him made me want to commit. One day I was watching a musical performance on television by Donnie McClurkin. It brought tears to my eyes. At that moment I was convicted and decided to be converted. I gave my heart to the Lord from that day and never regretted it,” she said.

Taylor, who is originally from the community of Olympic Gardens, studied at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.